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How to Debone Chicken Thighs

If you've ever wondered how to debone chicken thighs the proper way, this post is for you. Save money by removing the bones yourself!

6 chicken thighs arranged in two columns of 3 on a cutting board.
Take affordable bone-in, skin-on thighs and and debone them for easy and convenient chicken meat for all of your favorite chicken recipes!


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Why Buy Bone-In Chicken Thighs?

Let's face it--purchasing boneless, skinless chicken thighs can be convenient, but it's so much more expensive! Lately, I've been opting for bone-in thighs and taking the extra bit of time to debone them myself.

It may seem like a daunting task, but I've broken it down into simple steps that are easy to follow. In just a couple of minutes, you can easily debone your own chicken thighs and use them in my Teriyaki Chicken, Honey Mustard Chicken and Vegetables, and Chicken Stir Fry!

You'll be surprised how much of a monetary difference it makes, especially if you buy and cook with chicken thighs often. Here's how to do it with the right technique!

What You'll Need

Skin on bone in chicken thighs on a cutting board.
For the deboning process, all you need is chicken meat, a small knife, and a clean surface to work on.
  • Bone-in Chicken Thighs: I like to buy a few bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs and debone them all at the same time, but you can easily use this method to debone just one or two thighs.
  • Sharp Boning Knife: In order to safely remove the bone, you'll want a nice sharp knife. I prefer to use one on the smaller side so I can be more precise.
  • Clean Cutting Board: Or any flat surface that you can easily clean after you've handled raw chicken.

How to Debone Chicken Thighs

Removing skin and fat from a chicken thigh.
In just a few easy steps, you can remove the skin and bone and make your own boneless thighs for less money.
  • Step 1: Place the chicken thighs skin side up on your cutting board.
  • Step 2: Use your hands to pull off the skin, then flip over the chicken thigh.
Taking a knife and cutting out the center bone of a chicken thigh.
Make a nice clean cut on either side of the bone using the tip of your knife.
  • Step 3: Use your fingers to find the thigh bone and use a sharp knife to cut closely on both sides of the bone.
Sliding an orange knife underneath the center bone of a chicken thigh.
A good sharp knife should have no trouble cutting the entire length of the bone.
  • Step 4: Slide the knife under the bone and carefully run it along the length to the end of the bone, until it separates from the chicken.
A deboned chicken thigh on a cutting board with the removed bone in the background.
This step-by-step guide will turn any home chef into an expert in deboning chicken thighs!
  • Step 5: Once the central bone is removed, feel around to ensure there aren't any smaller bones remaining in the chicken thigh.
  • Step 6: Trim excess fat as desired, then use to cook or save for later!

Expert Tips

  • To store boneless chicken thighs, place them in a ziploc bag and keep them in the freezer for up to 6 months.
    • Separate the thighs with a bit of parchment if you want to prevent sticking.
    • Seal the bag well and press out air so the chicken thighs don't get freezer-burnt.
  • Be sure to thoroughly wash your hands before and after handling raw chicken. Clean hands lead to safer meat!
  • Though it seems counterintuitive, using a nice sharp knife will prevent you from cutting yourself. You won't need to wrestle with the chicken thighs or bones if your paring knife is plenty sharp. A dull knife may result to the knife slipping.
  • Don't be afraid to use your fingers to expose the bone--this will make it easier to pull it up and get the knife underneath!
  • Pat the chicken thighs dry with some paper towels to make them less slippery and easier to work with.

FAQs

What should I do with chicken bones?

Save the bones and use them to make a homemade chicken stock! You can also use the chicken skin for this. Making your own chicken stock typically involves boiling the bones and skin with some vegetables like celery, carrots, and onions, as well as any spices and herbs you might like.

Can you buy boneless chicken thighs?

You can typically find chicken thighs already de-boned at the grocery store, but these are typically pricier than bone-in thighs. This guide for how to debone chicken thighs is also great when you're unable to find boneless--I've found that bone-in chicken thighs are somewhat easier to find.

Recipes with Chicken Thighs

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Chicken thighs in a shallow bowl.
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5 from 9 votes

How to Debone Chicken Thighs

Learn how to debone chicken thighs in just a few easy steps and save money compared to the price of boneless, skinless chicken thighs!
Course How to
Keyword how to debone chicken thighs
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Author Wendie

Ingredients

  • 6 Chicken Thighs

Instructions

  • Place your chicken thigh skin side up on a cutting board.
  • Lift the edge of the skin up and pull if off. Then flip the chicken thigh over.
  • Using your fingers find the bone and using a sharp knife make small slices down the both sides.
  • Insert your knife under the bone and run it through to the end until the bone is separated from the flesh.
  • Once the bone is removed feel the chicken to make sure there are no small pieces left.
  • Trim any excess fat off if desired.

Notes

  • To freeze: Place in a ziplock freezer bag for up to 6 months in the freezer.
  • Use a nice sharp knife for an easier time.
5 from 9 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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12 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This was so helpful! Been wanting to debone chicken thighs on my own because of how much expensive boneless ones are and this was such a great help and also I didn't know it was easy to do. Thanks a lot for the tips!

  2. 5 stars
    This was so easy! And my boyfriend was so impressed at the depth of my culinary skills haha. I'm keeping a freezer bag full of chicken thigh bones so I can make broth later. Win win!

  3. 5 stars
    Ahhh thank you!!! Great tutorial - I use a lot of boneless skinless thighs in recipes but wanted to start to get bone in because of better price and to make stock with the bones, but I was intimidated by the process - it was so easy!!!

  4. 5 stars
    Thanks for sharing. Definitely saved some money by doing this on my own. Very easy to follow. Just need a little more practice! I can make my chicken thigh recipes all the time now.

  5. 5 stars
    Super handy! I learned how to do this during covid, but I haven't done it in years, so this was handy to have on hand after accidentally ordering some bone-in thighs!

  6. 5 stars
    This was great! I use a lot of recipes for boneless chicken thighs but they never seem to be on sale. This was an easy tutorial to follow and going to make my life easier thank you!